Packaging machine



May 19, 1970 R. B. F11-H PACKAGING MACHINE 7 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1967 May 19, 1970 R. B. FITCH PACKAGING MACHINE 7 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1967 R. B. FITCH 3,512,337

PACKAGING MACHINE v Maly 19, 1910 v sheetfsneet s Filed Aug. L6, 1967 m L m, ..7

M 6. ----.wm. M

u /IT .5 m1! 0% MWI-9 1970 R. B. FITCH 3,512,337 I `PACKAGrINt: MACHINE Filed Aug. 1.6, 19e? 7 sheets-sheet May 19, 1970 R. B. FITCH 3,512,337 i PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16. 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 (gigi: LWL' R. B. FITCH PACKAGINGMAGHINE May 19, 1970 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 16, 1967 m mm l@ f @LHV May 19, 1970 R. B. FITCH PACKAGING MACHINE 7 shee'tsesheet 'z Filed Aug. 16. 1987 United States Patent O 3,512,337 PACKAGING MACHINE Robert B. Fitchs Montville, N .1., assignor to Stapling Machines Co., Rockaway, NJ. Filed Aug. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 660,961 Int. Cl. B65b 27/00; B65g 25/10 U.S. Cl. 53-196 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to stacking and bundling machines and more particularly to stacking and -bundling machines for sheet material wherein sheet material in small stacks is aligned and secured and then fed to a Vertically adjustable platform where the small stacks are collected one above the other to form a larger stack that is then bundled and secured.

Sheet materials such as wallboard, plywood sheets and wood paneling are being manufactured in ever increasing quantities. Since a large part of the manufacturing cost is the associated direct labor cost, it is important, where dealing with such large volume, to eliminate as many of the manual operations as possible.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a stacking and bundling machine for stacking and bundling sheet material automatically.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stacking and bundling machine for sheet materials that requires a minimum of direct manual labor.

It is still a further object of the present inpention to provide a stacking and bundling machine for sheet materials that stacks, aligns, tapes and bundles sheet material in a rapid and trouble-free manner.

In acordance with one `embodiment of the present invention, small stacks of sheet material, i.e., four sheets, are alternately fed from transverse feeding stations into an aligning station where the stacks are aligned evenly and then fed to a rst taping station where opposed longitudinal edges of the sheet stacks are taped and labeled. The stacks are then fed to a lateral transfer station where they are moved by a reciprocating indexing frame to a second taping station where the opposed lateral edges are taped. From the second taping station the stacks are fed to a vertically movable collecting platform where a number of the smaller stacks are fed one on top of another to form a large stack and then bundled for shipping.

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1 showing the alternate transverse feed for the small stacks;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2 showing the rack and pinion drive mechanism and roller bed;

3,512,337 Patented May 19, 1970 ICC FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 1 showing a reciprocating alignment mechanism' for the small stacks;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4 showing in detail a longitudinal alignment block;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 1 showing a longitudinal alignment stop block;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 7 7 of FIG. 1 showing a detailed view of the drive chain mechanism that moves the aligned stacks through the first taping operation;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 7 showing a detail of the drive roller;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 9 9 of FIG. 1 showing a detail of a lateral alignment block;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 10 10 of FIG. 1 showing a detail of the operating air cylinder for the lateral alignment blocks;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 11 11 of FIG. 1 showing the drive mechanism for the lateral transfer of a small stack;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 1 showing a detail of an intermediate indexing lever;

FIG. 13 is a plan view taken along line 13 13 of FIG. 12 of the indexing lever of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 1 showing an end indexing lever and actuating mechanism therefor;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 15 15 of FIG. 1 showing the vertically movable stacking platform; and,

FIG. 16 is an elevational View taken along line 16 16 of FIG. 15 showing the indexing stop mechanism for the vertically adjustable platform.

As seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a receiving station, shown generally at 10, including opposed lateral transfer beds 12 and 14, respectively, to alternately feed stacks of sheet material 16 to a central alignment station 18. There the randomly stacked sheets 16 are aligned so that opposed longitudinal edges 20 and 22, respectively, are in vertical registration.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3 also for details of the receiving station 10, The receiving station includes lateral support rails 24 and 26, respectively, and a lower shuttle drive support rail 28 ybetween the support rails 24 and 26. Each of the support rails 24 and 26 are rigidly interconnected and braced by suitable support bracing including vertical columns 30 at each end, intermediate vertical support columns 32 and suitable cross brace members 34. A shuttle carriage assembly 36 is disposed for reciprocating motion on the guide rails 24 and 26 and includes side frame members 38 and 40 and center frame member 41 interconnected by cross-bars 80. Movement of the shuttle carriage assembly 36 is provided by rollers 48 rotatably mounted on the outside of side frame 38 and adapted to roll along a ilat top portion 50 of the support rail 24, and by V-grooved rollers 52 rotatably mounted on the outside of side frame 40 and adapted to ride on ridged guide IS4 on the top of support rail 26. The shuttle carriage assembly 36 can thus ride freely along the support rails 24 and 26 while being restrained from any lateral movement by the rdged guide 54 and the V-grooved rollers 52.

Reciprocating motion is imparted to the shuttle carriage assembly 36 as it moves along the support rails 24 and 26 by means of a carriage drive assembly, shown generally at 56. Carriage drive assembly 56 includes an air actuated operating cylinder 58 mounted on the shuttle drive support rail 28 and controlled by solenoid valve and electric limit switches (not shown) to cause the piston shaft 60 to periodically extend and retract. The piston shaft 60 is attached to a rack 62 that is disposed for sliding movement on the support rail 28 by means of rotating support bearings 64 mounted on the side of the support rail. A drive gear 66 engages the rack 62 and is rigidly mounted on center shaft 68. The shaft 68 is journaled at each end in support brackets 69 depending from support rails 24 and 26, respectively. Motion translating gears` 70 rigidly connected at each end of shaft 68 engage racks 72 and 74 secured to the inner side of the frame members 38 and 40, respectively. Thus, upon actuation of the air cylinder 58, the alternate extension and retraction of piston shaft 60y causes rack 62 to reciprocate cyclically, thus causing reciprocal rotation of the drive gear l66. This rotational movement is amplified, as gears 70 are of greater pitch diameter than gear 66, and translated to the shuttle carriage assembly 36 through the racks 72 and 74 thus causing the carriage assembly 36 to shuttle back and forth along the support rails 24 and 26.

The stacks of sheet material 16 are supported by and nde freely on a -bed of cylindrical rollers 76 in the transfer bed stations 12 and 14 and by spherical roller bearings 78 in the center alignment station 18` The bed of rollers is supported within the receiving station on stationary cross braces 81 and end support members 82, 84 and 86, 88, respectively. The end supports 84 and 88 are extensible to accommodate sheet material of varying lengths.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 as well as to FIGS. l and 2 for an understanding as to how the stacks of sheet material 16 are fed and aligned in the receiving station 18. To start, a number of individual sheets, i.e., four sheets, are placed on the rollers 76 in one of the lateral transfer beds and are engaged by a set of pusher block assemblies 90 that are pivotally mounted on shafts 42 and 44, respectively, in the shuttle carriage assembly 36. Thus, when the carriage 36 moves to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, the pusher block assembly 90 will engage a stack 16 and roll it freely along the rollers 76 into the aligning station 18 in the center. There the stack is restrained by a set of alignment stop blocks 92. As best seen in FIG. 2, the stack 16 on the left has just been engaged by the pusher block assemblies 90 on the left-hand side of the shuttle carriage, while the stack on the right has been pushed by the pusher block assemblies 90 on the right-hand side of the carriage against the set of stop blocks 92 shown at the center of FIG. 2. The compressive action on the loose stack of sheet material 16 aligns the sheets transversely and places the longitudinal edges 20 and 22 in registration. The stacked sheets 16 are alternately fed from lateral transfer beds 12 and 14, and thus it is necessary to provide for the passage of the stacks P16 over the pusher block assemblies 90 and stop block assemblies 92.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 for details of the pusher block assembly, a face insert block 94 that engages the lateral edges 20 or 22 of the stack of sheet material 16 is secured along with lateral support plates 96 and 98 to pivoting bracket 100 by a bolt 102 passing through retaining plate 104 and threaded in bracket 100. The bracket 100 is pivotally mounted on an end Shaft 42 or 44 of the carriage assembly 36 and has a post 106 extending from the lower end 108. A stop adjustment screw 110 threaded in a support block 112 mounted on the carriage assembly 36 limits the pivotal movement of the bracket -100 to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4. A securing post 114 extending from the bottom of support block 112 provides a mount for one end of a tension spring 116. The other end of the spring 1116 is secured to the post 108 and urges the pivoting bracket 100 against the stop adjustment screw 110. Thus When the carriage assembly retracts from the center alignment station 18 and encounters a new stack of sheet material 16 that has been loaded on one of the transfer beds 12 4 or 14, the bracket will engage the leading edge of the stack in position on the bed and pivot downward against the spring tension, to the position shown in broken line in FIG. 4, to allow the carriage assembly 36 to retract freely under the stack 16. Once the pusher block assembly 90 has passed completely under the stack 16, the spring 116 urges the block to pivot against the stop adjustment screw 110, to the position shown in full line, and allows the insert block 94 to engage the edge of the new stack on the return stroke of the carriage assembly.

The stop block assembly 92 (FIG. 6) has a face insert block 118 similar to block 94 in the pusher block assembly 90 and is secured to a pivoting lever support 120 by support plate 122 and threaded bolt 124. The lever 120 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 126 that is secured to the stationary frame members 24 and 26 by means of support posts (not shown) so that the alignment stop block assemblies 92 do not move with the reciprocating carriage assembly 36. A stop adjustment screw 128 threaded through a support block 130 and secured to the stationary frame member restrains pivotal movement of the lever 120 to the position shown in full line in FIG. 6. A tension spring 132 having one end connected to a support post 134 on depending bracket plate 136 and the other end connected to an extending post 138 on the lever 120 retains the pivoting lever 120 against the stop adjustment screw 128. When a stack of sheet material 16, carried along the roller bed by the shuttle carriage assembly 36, approaches the stop block from the left as viewed in FIG. 6, the stack engages the rear inclined portion 140` of the lever 120 and causes it to pivot downward, against the action of spring 132, to the position shown in broken line, to allow the stack of sheet material to roll freely over the alignment stop block.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it can be seen that when a stack of sheet material 16 in position on transfer bed 12 is carried by the reciprocating carriage assembly 36 toward the central alignment station 18 it will ride over the rst set of alignment stop blocks 92 and engage the second set of alignment stop blocks which Will remain in the elevated position. The compressive action of the pusher block assembly 90 pushing the stack against the align-ment stop blocks 92 will place the edges of the stack in vertical registration. This aligned stack is then moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, in a manner to be described hereinafter, and the carriage 36 then continues its movement toward the transfer bed 14. As it moves in this direction the pusher block assemblies 90 pivot under the stack of material already in position in the transfer bed 14. After the pusher blocks have passed completely under this stack they pivot up again and on the return stroke of the carriage this new stack is moved from transfer bed 14 towards the central alignment station 18. This stack rides over the first set of alignment stop blocks 92 and engages the second set of alignment stop blocks and are in turn aligned and then moved to the left.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 and 8 as well as to FIG. l for the description of the conveyor mechanism which moves the longitudinally aligned sheets from the central alignment station 18 to the first taping station 142. An overhead endless link chain drive 144, driven by motor 146, is supported over the bed of rollers by suitable stationary frame support members 148 at each end. A pair of L-shaped frame members 150 suspended between the frame support 148 provide a guide and support for the moving chain drive mechanism. U-shaped brackets 152 are connected at periodic spaced intervals, selected to accommodate the length of sheet material being conveyed, to the links of the chain 144. One leg 154 of the U-shaped bracket 152 is attached, e.g., by welding to a push block support bar 156 that carries push blocks 158 arranged to engage the right-hand end of the stack of sheet material 16 as viewed in FIG. 1. Upstanding support brackets 160 welded to the opposite side of the bar 156 provide a mount for rotatable guide roller elements 162 -which ride, when the push bar 156 is in the lower drive position, between roller guide ribs 164 and 166 secured to depending leg 168 of the L-shaped guide 150. The other leg 167 of the bracket 152 rides along chain guide rails 160 on depending leg 168 of the guide 150. When the push 'bar is in the upper return position, the rollers 162 ride on the upper leg 170 of the L-shaped bracket 150. Thus, as the chain is driven by the motor 146 its lower portion moves to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, and drives the push blocks 158 and the stack of sheet material 16 on the roller bed to the left.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9 and 10 for a description of the two alignment stop block assemblies 172 that, in conjunction with the push blocks 158, align the lateral edges of the stack of sheet material 16. Each stop block assembly 172 is positioned just ahead of the rst taping station 142 and includes alignment stop blocks 174 that engage the leading edge of the stack of sheet material 16. The blocks 174 are carried by a bracket support 176 that in turn is supported for sliding movement within cam slot 178 of support housing 180. The support housing is mounted on a stationary frame member 182. The bracket support 176 slides within the cam slot 178 on rollers 184 rotatably mounted on support shafts 186 carried by the bracket 176. A cross brace member 188 interconnects two alignment stop block assemblies so that they move in unison. An air cylinder 190 centrally mounted, between the stop block assemblies, on a stationary support 192 on frame 182 has its drive piston 194 pivotally connected, as at 195, to an upstanding bracket 196 that is rigidly secured to the cross frame member 188. Roller guide elements 198 rotatably mounted to the cross frame member 188 and disposed to roll aong either side of support housing 180 restrain the stop block assembly from lateral movement and retain the guide rollers 184 within the cam slot 178.

`In operation, as the chain drive mechanism 144 carries the stack of sheet material 16 against the stop blocks 174, movement of the stack of material is restrained by the stop blocks due to the extended piston shaft 194 of the air cylinder 190. The compressive action caused by the continuously moving chain drive forces the stop block assemblies 172 back along the straight portion 200 of the cam slot 178 and, as this movement is restrained by the air cylinder 190, the stacks of sheet material are forced against the alignment blocks 174 and their lateral edges are aligned. As the continuing movement of the chain drive overcomes the restraint of the air cylinder, the rollers 184 approach the angled leg 202 of the cam slot. The stop blocks, after the initial movement against the air cylinder restraint, are then retracted to the broken line position (FIG. 9) by a reversal of the air pressure to the Cylinder 190. With the stop blocks now retracted, the stack can now roll freely along the roller bed. After the stack has passed the stop block assembly, the air cylinder is actuated to return the assembly to the full-line position ready to receive the next stack.

After the stack of material 16 has had its longitudinal and lateral edges aligned, the aligned stacks pass through the rst taping station 142 where a strip of tape 203 is applied to the longitudinal edges of the stack by means of tape applying apparatus 204 that can be of the type disclosed in Varga U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 591,636, filed Nov. 2, 1966, now U.S. Pat. 3,406,084. Once the tape has been applied to the longitudinal edges, the tape stack is labeled for identication by labeler 205 and passed to the transfer bed 206 where it is in turn carried by a reciprocating indexing frame to the second taping station and then to the stacking station.

Beneath the stationary roller bed in the stations 206, 208, 210 and 212 is a reciprocating index frame 214 driven by a rack and pinion drive 216 and 218. The reciprocating index frame 214 carries pivotally mounted index levers or pawls 220, 222 and 224 that are appro- 6 priately spaced to engage successive stacks of sheet material 16 as they are rolled onto the transfer bed 206. The bed 206 is extensible to accommodate stacks of varying lengths.

The indexing pawls 222 and 224 are of similar construction and as can be seen from FIGS. l2 and 13 are pivotally mounted on the indexing frame 214 by means of shaft 226 extending through the pawl at the approximate mid point. The normally raised forward end 228 has a cutout portion 230 to make the raised end 228 lighter than the rear end 232 so that the normal position of the pawl 222, due to its own gravitational weight is with the forward end 228 raised to engage the stacks 16 on the roller bed. A stop pin 234 restrains pivotal motion and positions the pawl 222 in the correct position to engage the stack of sheet material 16. As shown in FIG. 12, the position of the stop pin 234 with respect to the pivot shaft 226, eg., pin 234 slightly below shaft 226 and positioned more toward the rear of pawl 222, advantageously limits pivoting motion of the pawl 222 so that if, inadvertcntiy, the forward end 228 of pawl 222 is struck so that pawl 222 pivots downwardly so that the forward end 228 is below the level of the indexing frame 214 and the rear end 232 is elevated above indexing frame 214, the concentration of the weight in the rear end 232 still causes pawl 222 to pivot so that the rear end 232 is returned below the level of the frame 214 and forward end 228 is elevated as shown in FIG. 12. Thus when the indexing frame 214 retracts and passes under a stack of sheet material 16, the leading edge of the stack forces the raised end 228 downward to allow the indexing frame to pass freely under the stack. When the frame has passed the trailing edge of the stack, the rear portion 232 of the pawl, since it is heavier, causes the pawl to pivot back against the stop 234.

Since the indexing pawls 220, as they reciprocate with the indexing frame 214, cross the path of the stacks of sheet material 16 as they roll onto the transfer bed 206, provision must be made to have the normal position of pawls 220 in the lower position so as not to interfere with the oncoming stacks of sheet material. Referring to FIG. 14, it can be seen that pawl 220 has its forward end 236 of heavier construction than its rear end 238, thus, its normal free position, as it pivots about support shaft 240, is to lie in a recess 242 in the indexing frame 214, in the manner shown in broken line. When the indexing frame 214 returns to the extreme left, as viewed in FIG. 14, ready to engage a new stack 16, a lever arm 244 pivotally secured by shaft 246 to stationary frame element 248 is forced to pivot downward. The lever 244 is pivotally connected, as at 249, to piston shaft 250 of air cylinder 252 mounted on stationary frame element 248. When the shaft 250 is retracted, the lever arm 244 pivots downward against a protruding pin 239 on the rear portion 238 of the pawl 220. The rear portion 238 of the pawl is thus forced downward by lever 244 causing the forward end 236 to rise above the roller bed level to be in position to engage the oncoming stack. When the indexing frame 214 begins to travel to the right, the forward end 236 of the pawl 220 engages the stack 16 and the pin 239 on the pawl 220 moves out from under the arm 244. The pawl 220 will be held in the raised position in pushing engagement with the stack 16 due to friction with the trailing edge of the stack, and will not return to the recessed portion 242 until the indexing frame starts its retracting stroke. The pawl 220 will then pivot downward into the recess 242, below the roller bed level, and will not interfere with the next oncoming stack during the return stroke of the indexing frame.

As the stack of sheet material is indexed from the transfer bed 206 to the taping station 208, a tape strip 251 is applied to the lateral edges by means of a tape applying apparatus 252 similar to tape applying apparatus 204. The sheets are then indexed to the labeling station 210 where a suitable label identification is applied 7 by labeler 254 and then to the stacking station 212 where successive layers of the stacked and taped sections 16 are built up into a larger stack and then bundled and wrapped forA shipment at the wrapping station 256.

Reference is now made to FIGS. l and 16 for details of the vertically indexing station 212. At this station, the sheets approach successively along the roller bed at a uniform height. The vertically indexing platform incrementally lowers the pile to permit the successive stacks to be added to the top thereof.

The roller bed ends at station 210 and as the stack 16 moves off the roller bed, it slides onto the stacking platform and the platform and stack then indexes vertically downward a sufficient distance to bring the level of the platform and stack down to the level of the rollers so that the next stack 16 may slide on.

The stacks 16 are received on supporting bars 258 on the platform 260 and are thus raised above the platform to allow for removal of the stack by a fork-lift truck, if desired. The platform 260 is supported by vertical supports 262 and 263 that can move vertically relative to the stationary frame members 264 and 266. Vertical movement is afforded by guide rollers 268 and 269 that are mounted on the outside surface of each support leg 262 and 263 and ride in channels 270 and 272 in stationary supports 264 and 266, respectively. Uniform vertical movement of the platform 260 is provided by geared racks 274 and 275 mounted1 on the inside surface of colunms 262 and 263, respectively, that engage .pinions 276 and 277 rigidly mounted on opposite ends of shaft 278. The shaft 278 is journaled in pillow blocks 280 and 282 that are supported on the stationary frame. Thus any movement imparted to either column 262 and 263 will be transferred to the other column uniformly.

Vertical motion is imparted to the platform 260 by means of an air cylinder 284 that has its piston end 286 pivotally connected, as at 288, to a connecting link 290 that is in -turn pivotally connected, as at 292, to another link member 294. The link 294 is pivotally connected to vertical support member 263 through a link support block 296 axed to the member 263 and a pivot connection at 298. The opposite end of the air cylinder 284 has a mounting ear 300 for pivotal connection to connecting member 302 that is in turn pivotally mounted, as at 304, to link member 306. The link member 306 is in turn pivotally connected, as at 338, to a link support block 310 secured to the vertical support member 262. The two links, 294 and 306, are in turn pivotally secured at 312 by means of ya pin 314 carried by the link 306 that is siidably received within an elongated slot 316 on the link member 294. Thus, when the air cylinder 284 is actuated and the piston retracted, the two connecting links 2.90 and 302 pivot toward each other, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 15, and cause the links 294 and 306- connected to the vertical support elements tcpivot downward thus imparting a vertically upward movement to the support columns 262 land 263 to raise the platform 260. Conversely, when the .piston element extends, the links will pivot in the opposite directions and cause the platform 260 to move vertically downward as shown in broken line.

Incremental vertical movement is provided by a guide plate 318 mounted on the vertical support column 263. The guide plate has an incrementally notches slot 320 whose alternate opposed notches are so dimensie-ned that when the pin 322 on latch 324 moves from engagement with a notch on one side to` engagement lwith a notch on the opposite side, the platform descends vertically a distance sufficient to accommodate the thickness of one stack of material. The latch 324 is pivotally mounted as at 326 to a stationary support member and fhas its lower end 328 pivotally secured to a piston element 330 of air cylinder 332. The air cylinder 332 is alternately operated to extend and retract the piston 330 thus causing the latch 324 to pivot alternately within the slot 8 320. The latch pin 322 thus alternately engages the notches on each side of the slot 320 controlling the degree of vertical movement of the platform 260i. To change the increment of vertical movement of the platform 260, all that necessary is that an appropriately dimensioned notched guide p-late 318 be substituted.

Once the desired number of separate stacks of sheet material 16 have been loaded on the platform 260, and the platform 260' has moved downward its full extent, the stacks are transferred to` the wrapping station 256 and bundled to form a large stack and from there moved to the loading area.

It is thus apparent that the apparatus of the present invention provides a method for rapid stacking, alignment, taping, labeling and bundling of individual sections of sheet material in a rapid and continnous manner.

It is thus to be appreciated that the invention provides a simple and practical means by which the aforementioned and other apparent desirable objectives are achieved. However, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment which is described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings is intended as merely illusrative of the principles of the invention rather than as restrictive of its scope, which is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for bundling sheet material comprising:

a receiving station adapted to receive and support a plurality of sheets stacked one above the other,

conveyor means for engaging the stacks of sheets in said receiving station and moving said stacks along a first path past ya pair of taping mechanisms, arranged at opposite sides of said first path, means on said taping mechanisms to apply tape along the pair of opposed edges of said stacks extending parallel to said rst path,

a transfer bed for moving said stacks along a second path, transverse to said rst path, past a pair of taping mechanisms arranged at opposite sides of said second path, means on said taping mechanisms to apply tape along the pair of opposed edges of said stacks extending parallel to said second path,

said transfer bed comprising ya stationary bed for supporting said stacks and a reciprocating indexing frame within said bed adapted to advance and retract an incremental distance Iacross said rst path and along said second path,

at least one rst indexing pawl at one end of said indexing frame adapted to contact said stacks while they are moving along said rst path and move said stacks along said second path `as said indexing frame ladvances across said rst path,

said indexing pawl being normally recessed below said stacks so that when said indexing frame retracting across said rst path said indexing pawl will not interfere with said stacks moving along said rst path, and

means on said transfer bed for elevating said indexing pawl to engage said stack before said indexing frame advances and begins to move said stack along said second path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where-in said indexing pawl comprises an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its end on said indexing frame,

pivot stops adapted to restrain pivoting movement of said arm from a rst position where the arm is recessed below said stacks on the transfer bed to a. second position where one end of said arm is raised to a position enabling it to engage said stacks on said bed, and

said arm is weighted so that the normal free pivoting position is said rst position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means on said transfer bed for elevating said indexing pawl includes an actuating arm adapted to pivot from a rst raised position to a second lower position when said indexing frame retracts, to thereby contact said indexing pawl and cause it to pivot from said first recessed position to said second raised position and enable it to engage said stacks.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least one second indexing pawl carried by said indexing frame and spaced from said first indexing pawl longitudinally of said transfer bed a distance slightly exceeding the dimension of said sheets parallel to their direction of movement on said transfer bed, and adapted to engage said stacks carried by said first indexing pawl on a subsequent advance of said reciprocating indexing frame to thereby produce an incremental intermittent movement of said stacks in said transfer bed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second indexing pawl comprises a second indexing arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on Said indexing frame;

pivot stops adapted to restrain pivoting movement of said second indexing arm from a first position where one end of said arm is raised to enable it to engage said stacks on said bed to a second position where the arm is recessed below said stacks on said bed, and wherein said arm is weighted so that its free position is said first position.

6. A machine for aligning and bundling sheet material comprising:

opposed feeding stations to alternately feed a plurality of sheets stacked one above the other to a central receiving station;

means within said receiving station for aligning a iirst pair of opposed sides of said stacked sheets to place said sides in Vertical registration;

conveyor means for engaging said stacked sheets and moving said stacks along a first path away from said receiving station;

means along said first path for aligning a second pair of opposite sides of said stacked sheets to place said sides also in vertical registration;

a pair of taping mechanisms along said first path arranged at opposite sides of said rst path to apply tape along the pair of opposed edges extending parallel to said first path; and

a transfer bed for moving said stacks along a second path, transverse to said first path, past a pair of taping mechanisms arranged at opposite sides of said second path to apply tape along the pair of opposed edges of said stacks extending parallel to said second path.

7. The apparatus of claim -6 wherein said opposed feeding stations include a reciprocating shuttle carriage adapted to alternately move from one opposed feeding station to the other;

each end of said carriage having at least a pair of upstanding pivotally mounted alignment blocks adapted to engage and carry said stacks alternately from said feeding stations to said receiving station as the 10 carriage shuttles from one feeding station to the other;

opposed sets of at least a pair of normally upstanding pivotally mounted stop blocks supported in said receiving station and adapted to alternately engage said stacks in conjunction with one pair of alignment blocks on said shuttle carriage to produce a cornpressive force on the stacks as said carriage is moving to thereby align the edges of said stacks and place them even in vertical registration.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each set of opposed alignment blocks and stop blocks includes means t0 retract said blocks below the level of said stacks alternately as said stacks are lshuttled from said opposed feeding stations to the center receiving station. y

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said alignment blocks and said stop blocks includes a normally upstanding support member, one end of said support member being adapted to provide -a surface to engage the edges of said stacks, the other end of said support member being pivotally mounted to allow said support member to pivot from a first upstanding position above the level of said stacks to a second retracted position below the level of said stacks.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means along said first path for aligning a second pair of opposite sides of said stacks includes an engaging surface carried by said conveyor means adapted to engage one side of said stacked sheets, a second engaging surface located across said rst path of movement to provide an obstruction to said stacks as they are conveyed along said first path by said conveyor means, said second engaging surface adapted to provide a resistance to the movement of said stacks along said first path to produce a compressive force in conjunction with the first engaging means on said conveyor to align said stacks and place said second pair of opposite sides of said stacks in vertical registration, and means to allow retraction of said second engaging surface below the level of said stacks after said stacks have been placed in vertical registration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,726,418 8/ 1929 Aldrich et al 198-221 3,289,821 12/1966 Bosse et al 198-221 2,535,240 12/ 1950 Spiller et al. 198-106 3,195,287 7/1963 Kelley 53-137 3,366,225 1/196-8 Thorp 198-221 3,406,084 10/ 1968 Varga 156-522 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner 

